Electric



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. E. RIES. PORTABLE REGULATOR EoR ELECTRIC GURRENTS.

No. 515,971. Patented Mar. 6, 1894.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. E. E. RIES. PORTABLE REGULATOR lEOEELECTRIC GUEEENTS.

No. 515,971. Patented Mar. 6, 1894;`

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ELIAS E. RIES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE RIES ELECTRICSPECIALTY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PORTABLE REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC CURRENTS.

SPEGEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,971, dated March 6,1894.

Application iiled April 4, 1893. Serial No. l69,052. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS E. REs, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Baltimore,in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Portable Regulators for ElectricCurrents, of which the 'following is a specification My invention hasreference to improvements in regulators forlamps and other translatingdevices fed by alternating currents, and it is in the nature ot animprovement upon the regulating socket for which Letters Patent of theUnited States have been granted to myself and to IV. S. Horry, on MarcilS, 1892, No. 70,402 In the said patent there is shown a regulatingsocket containing a reaction coil and a switch key, and by the operationof the latter, portions ot the reaction coil can be cut into and out ofcircuit, whereby the current iiowing to the lamp, or other translatingdevice held in the socket, can be regulated at will. The socket shown inthe patent is adapted to receive an incandescent lamp, the base of whichis constructed to fit into and make electrical contact'with properlydisposed terminals of the socket. The socket, therefore, as shown in thepatent, is, in the nature of things a iixture ot' a system ot'incandescent lighting, and is adapted for use only in connection withthe particular shape of incandescent lamps or other translating devicesfor which the socket was constructed. It serves the purpose of enablingthe user to burn the lamp with any degree of incandescence. Now, ifpersons, who have been accustcmed to thus use lamps at various degreesot brilliancy, according to the immediate wants or desires, experiencegreat inconvenience when, in travel, they arrive at a place where noregulating socket is provided as a fixture to the electric lightingsystem, since at such places they are obliged to use the light with fullbrilliancy or not at all.

My present invention is designed to supply this want, and it consists ina regulator which can be used in connection with any of the moreprominent types of incandescent lamps, and which can be coupled with anyof the more prominent non-regulating lamp sockets, and can again bedetached therefrom with ease and comfort. A person provided with myimprovement can, therefore, use any incandescent lamp at any place withthe same advantage which is aitorded by the regulating socket shown inthe aforesaid patent, since my regulator can be coupled with any of thelamp sockets which are used as fixtures in the various systems ofelectric illumination. In a modiiied form of myinvention the same can hecoupled with any lamp socket for the purpose of conveying current to anyother translating device than lamps, such for instance as fan-motors, sothat the flow of current to such translating device can be regulated.

From what has been said, it will be clear that my regulator ispreeminently aportable current regulator, although some of theimprovements which I have shown are also adapted for use in connectionwith a iiXed regulating lamp socket. All this will more fully appear trom the following' detail description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of a lamp socketembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar section taken on anotherplane and showing parts in elevation. Fig. 3, is a vertical section of amoditied form of the invention. Figa, is a vertical section of stillanother form of the invention. Fig. 5, is a plan view of the switchboard used in the sockets. Eig. 6, is a plan view of the under faceofthe switch board shown in Fig. 5. Eig. '7, is a side elevation of aregulating socket constructed in accordance with my invention and withan incandescent electric lamp in place. Eig. 8, is a perspective view ofa plug for adapting one terminal of the regulating device to varioustypes of sockets. Figs. 9 and l0, are perspective views of structures bymeans of which the regulating device is adapted to receive various typesof lamp bases, and Figs. 1l, l2 and 13, are views of some of the wellknown incandescent electric lamp bases.

Like numerals ot reference indicate like parts all throughout thedrawings.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a reaction or choking coill,composed of a lami- IOO nated core 2, around which is wounda cable 3,consisting of a number of insulated conductors, the terminals of whichare connected together so that the cable is in fact a single conductorformed of a number of sections connected end to end, and one or more ofwhich may be included in the circuit as desired. All this is fully shownand described in the aforesaid Letters Patent No. 470,402. The coil 1,is clamped between a disk 4, and a cylindrical block 5, both ofinsulating material, preferably porcelain, by means of a central bolt 6,square for the greater portion of its length and terminating at the endsin reduced cylindrical threaded portions 7, and 8, respectively. Thisbolt or bar 6, maybe formed in one metal piece, as shown in Figs. 3 and4, or it may be made of two metal pieces joined .by an insulatingcoupling, as shown in Fig. 1,

for reasons which will appear farther on. The disk 4, has a centralsquare hole for the passage therethrough of one end of the bar 6, andthe end 7, of this bar projects abovethe upper face of the disk 4, wherea pin 9, is passed through and projects beyond the sides of this end 7,so as to engage the upper face of the said disk 4. The block 5, has acentral perforation, one end of which is square for the reception of thebar 6, and the other end is countersunk for a distance, for thereceptionof a nut 10, and between this countersunk portion and the squareportion, the passage is round to receive the cylindrical end 8, of thebar 6, whichl end projects into the said countersunk portion and therereceives the'nut 10, by means of which latter pressure may be exerted onthe coil in order to clamp it iirmly between the Adisk 4, and block 5,as will be readily understood. The nut 10 is slightly beveled or conicalas is also the countersink into which it is seated, so that the said nutwill fit tightly in place when applied to the end 8, of the bar 6. Thewider end of this nut is countersunk and threaded as shown at 11, forthe reception of a plug 12, the latter having a threaded head 13,fitting the countersunk portion of the nut and slotted, as shown, forthe application of a screw driver, and also having a smooth shank 14, ofsuch size as to tit loosely into the central bore of the nut. This plug12, may be applied to the nutwith the shank 14, housed in the bore ofthe nut, in which case the head will protrude a short distance beyondthe lower face of the block 5, or the plug 12, may be inserted in suchmanner that its shank 14, will project outwardly'. The lower end of theblock 5, has an exterior thread formed thereon and screwed onto thisthreaded portion there is a threaded metallic sleeve 15, having a narrowinwardly projecting flange 16, which engages the lower face of the block5, but which does not reach to the nut 10. The upper end ot' this sleeveis formed with an annular bead 17, and atvarious points -in this beadthe metal of the sleeve may be indented as shown at 18, the

said indented portions entering corresponding pits formed in the block5, and thereby preventing the sleeve from unscrewing from the block. Itwill now be seen that if the sleeve 15, forms one terminal of anelectric circuit and a nut 10, forms the other terminal, the block 5,will constitute a plug adapted to numerous forms of sockets forthe basesof incandescent electric lamps, whether the said sockets be constructedfor bases having an exterior screw-thread and a central flat boss asinthe Edison type, or having a simple rib on the exterior to be graspedbyspring ngers,and a central terminal formed either as a nut or astem,asintheThomson-Houston,Sawyer-Man, and other types. The disk 4, isof greater diameter than the coil 1, and has on its under face flatbosses 19, on diametrically opposite sides, and these bosses bear on theupper edge of the coil, thus elevating the other portions of the diskabove the coil. In each of these elevated or thinner portions, which arediametrically opposite each other, is a series of rectangularperforations 20, arranged upon the arc of a circle, in such manner thateach perforation of one series matches a space between two perforationsot' the other series. The perforations 20, receive metallic contactblocks 21, each of which is split longitudinally, for aportion ot itslength, into two legs 22. Before the contact blocks are inserted in theperforations 20, the bared ends of the conductors constituting the cable3, are threaded through these perforations, the adjacent ends ot' twoconductors being passed through the same perforation. The conduc- IOOtor terminals are then inserted between the legs 22, of the blocks 21,slightly spreading them, and the said blocks are then forced into theperforations in such manner as to tightly clamp the conductor terminalsbetween the legs 22, and at the same time cut off any projecting ends bya shearing action between the block and the edge of the perforation 20.It will be observed that the space between the top of the coil 1, andthe thinner portions of the disk 4, gives ample room for the properdisposition of the conductor terminals coming from the coil. TheeXtension 7, of the bar 6, forms a pivotal support for a switch arm- 23,formed of sheet metal and having two contact lingers 24, 25, integralwith it and so bent as to rest on the face of the disk 4, and therebysupport the switch arm a short distance above the same. The switch armhas aperforation midway between the two ingers,`for the passage of theend 7, of the bar 6. A nut 26, is applied to the extension 7, and isscrewed down against the switch arm until the fingers 24, 25, bear withfriction on the face of the disk, or on the contact blocks, which latterit will be seen, are in the path of these fingers as the switch arm ismoved around its pivot. One end 27, of the switch arm is extended beyondthe block 4, and is there provided with a handle 28, split horizontallyto form two legs 29, re-

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ceiving between them the end 27, ot the switch arml to which latter thehandle is secured by a screw 30, as shown in Fig.

At diametrically opposite points, on the upper face oi. the disk 4, aretwo segmental stops 8l, in the path ofthe switch arm. These stops are solocated that the switch arm may be swung on its pivot and make contactwith all the blocks of both series and then carry the fingers 24, 25,both out ot contact with the contact blocks at one end of its line ot'travel. The terminals of the coil l, are connected alternately to theblocks ot the two se ries, that is, one end ot' the coil is connected toone of the end contact blocks of one series, the coupled ends ot thetirst and second conductor sections are connected to the diametricallyopposite end Contact block olf the other series, the coupled ends of thesecond and third conductor sections are connected to the second contactblock of the iirst series, and so on. rlhe two series of contact blocksare so arranged that as the switch arm is moved over them one fingerwill make contact with a block of one series an instant be fore theother linger breaks contact with a block of the other series, thus thecoil l, or any part thereof, may be cut into or out of circuit graduallywithout at any time breaking the circuit, except when the latter ispurposely broken after the coil sections have all been included.

By arranging the contact blocks in two opposing series, and having theswitch arm make alternate contact therewith, Iavoid crowding the contactblocks and conductor terminals in a small space, as would be the casewere only one series used in connection with a switch arm having thesame limited sweep. The disposition of the contact blocks is also ofadvantage when the disk 4, is made of brittle material, such asporcelain, since the spaces between the contact blocks are broad andstrong and not thin and frail as they would be if the Contact blockswere all crowded into the same series and the sweep of the switch armwere restricted to the arc shown.

Both the disk 4, and the block 5, may be made of wood, vulcanized liber,or other similar material, but by preference they are made of porcelain,because this material may be readily molded into the desired shape, andis a refractory insulator of high order.

In the under side of the disk 4, there is an annular groove 32, in whichis seated a curved metallic strip or ring 33. Perforations 34, extendthrough the stops 3l, and disk 4, and open into the groove 32, andpassing through these perforations are screws 35, having i'lat heads and(as shown in Fig. l) entering nuts formed in the strip or ring S3.

In the construction shown in Fig. l, the bar 6, is composed of two parts6', and 6, joined by a coupling 36, into which the adjacent ends ofthesections 6 and (Ware seated,

and are there secured by pins 3'7. This coupling 36, is of insulatingmaterial, preferably porcelain, and consequently the two sections G',and 6, are insulated one Jfrom the other. The section 6 of the bar isscrewed into the nut l0, which togetherwith the plug l2, forms a circuitterminal, as before explained, and tapped into this section 6', ot thebar 6,there is a binding screw 38, securing one end of a short conductor39, to the said bar, the other end ot said conductor being secured tothe strip or ring 33, before referred to. The nut 2G, has a tubularextension 40, split longitudinally and threaded on its exterior, beingthus adapted to receive various types of incandescent electric lampbases, and the screws 85, may be utilized directly as one terminal of anelectric circuit and making contact with one terminal of an incandescentelectric lamp, or these screws may be used to hold various structuressuch as shown in Figs. 9 and l0; these structures adapt the socket foruse with various types of lamps, and they will hereinafter be referredto as adapters The switch and coilare protected by a shell composed of abody portion 4l, and acap 42. As shown in Figs. l and 2, the bodyportion has one end reduced in diameter, forming a ange which tits underan annular rib 43, on the block 5 near its upper end and also serving asa support for the coil l. The other end of the body portion ot the shellis secured to the periphery of the disk 4, by means of screws 44,entering nuts formed in blocks 45, seated in sockets 4G, formed, atdiametrically opposite points, in the periphery ot the disk 4. This modeof securing the shell to the disk 4, is the one adopted when the disk isformed ot" porcelain or other similar material. The cap piece 42, may beslipped over the upper end of the body portion 4l, ot the shell, andmaybe provided with slots in the shape of bayonet joints, engaging thescrews 44, in a well known manner, to lock the cap in place, or thescrews 44 may pass through simple pertorations in this cap-piece, thislatter being the construction illustrated in the drawings. The upper endof the cap-piece is formed into a neck 47, adapted to receive a lampbase, or either of the adapters referred to. The block 5, has alongitudinal perforation 4S, for the passage of a conductor, connectedat one end to one of the end-blocks of one of the series in the disk 4,and at the other end to the shell 15, this conductor being showndiagrammatically by the dotted line 49, in Fig. 2.

The structure thus Afar described constitutes a portable regulatingsocket that may be readily adapted to various styles of lamps and lampsockets, or other translating devices. iVhen the block 5, is inserted inan ordinary lamp socket, and alamp or a connector from which conductorslead to a translating device, is inserted in the neck 47, the circuitthrough the device shown in Figs. l and 2,is as follows, assuming thatthe switch armis upon some intermediate contact block: Gurrent enteringthrough the plug l2, and nut 10, will pass to t-he bar section 6',thence by conductor IOO IIO

39, to the ring 33, and screws 35, thence through the lamp or othertranslating device, returning by the nut 26, to the switch arm, thenceto one of the contact blocks 21, through the portion of the coil therebyincluded in the circuit, thence by the conductor 49, and out through theshell 15. If the switch arm be moved so as to make contact with thecontact block to which the conductor 49 is connected, the coil will becut out of circuit, and consequently the full current will flow. As theswitch arm is moved in the other direction the conductor sections of thecable 3, will be successively cut into the circuit and thereby graduallyobstruct the tlow of current, until, when the switch arm is on the lastblock and the entire coil is in circuit, the least amount of circuitwill flow to the translating device, while a further movement of theswitch arm will then break the circuit, with little or no spark.

In Fig. 3, the invention is shown in a form adapted for insertion in alamp socket, but instead of being provided with means for receiving alamp base, it has a conducting cord secured to it terminating in asocket, so that the translating device may be situated at any convenientpoint. In this form ot' the invention the bar 6, is a single piece ofmetal through which current will pass from the nut 10, directly to theswitch arm 23, and the nut 26, is of ordinary form, the tubularextension 40, being omitted. The heads of the screws 35, have shortscrews 50, tapped into them and constitute binding posts receiving theterminals of a Iiexible cable-conductor 5l, leading to a socket 51. Inthis construction thering 33, is omitted and in its place nuts 33', areapplied to the lower end of the screws within the groove 32. To one ofthese screws 35, there is secured, by means ot' the nut 33', a conductor52, coming from the terminal block of one of the series to which one ofthe terminals of the coil is connected, so that when the switch arm ison this block the coil will be entirely cut out of the circuit. To theother screw 35, the conductor 49, coming from the shell 15, isconnected. The circuit through this device will, therefore, be from theshell 15, by the conductor 49, to one of the screws 35, thence by theconductor 51, to the translating device, thence returning to the otherscrew 35, to the end contact block of the series and by the switch arm,either directly or through one or more of the conductor sections'of thecoil, and out through the bar 6, and nut 10. In this construction thesection 42, of the shell is formed into a neck 47', contracted at theupper end and receiving an insulating plug 53, having a central passagefor the cable conductor 51.

The construction shown in Fig. 4, is that of apendent regulating socketdiffering from the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in that theblock 5, is omitted andin its place is substituted a thick disk 5',carrying two screws 35, with binding screws 50, similar to those lshownin Fig. 3, except that the said screws 35, are shorter. To one of thesescrews 35, the ring 33, is directly connected by a conductor 54, (shownin dotted lines,) while the other screw 35, is connected by a conductor(not shown) leading to the end contact block ofthe switch board. The bar6, is formed in one piece as in Fig. 3, and has applied to it, at theend projecting through the block or disk 5', a nut l0', for holding itin place. In this construction the cap or section 42, of the shell isformed as in Fig.1, while the other or main part or section 41, of theshell is formed with a neck 47', contracted at its end and receiving aplug 53, of insulating material with a central passage for the flexiblecable conductor 51, exactly as in Fig. 3, except that in the latter casethis con-struction of the shell applies to the section 42, instead ofthe section 41, and the conductor 5l, leads toa plug 51", instead of asocket. In the several constructions shown in the figures, the switcharm projects througha narrow slot 55, formed in the shell and the endsof the legs 29, are reduced in thickness so as to enter this slot andthus prevent accidental contact between the switch arm and the shell.

In Figs. 9 and 10, the adapters before mentioned, are shown. Theseadapters each consist ot' a metal cup 56, the bottom of which is cutaway, as shown at 57, for the passage of the tubular extension 40, ofthe nut v26. On each side of the opening 57, there are curved slots 58,enlarged at the middle for the passage ot' the heads of the screws 35,so that when the adapter is placed within the neck 47, with the heads ofthe screws 35, extending through the enlarged portions of the slots 58,it is only necessary to turn the adapter in order to cause the screwheads to engage over the metal at the sides of the slots 58, and therebylock the said adapter in place; the adapter thus becomes one terminal ofthe socket circuit.

The adapter shown in Fig. 9, is arranged with spring arms to engagelamps of the Sawyer Man or Westinghouse pattern and is formed withscrew-threads so as to receive a lamp base of the Edison type shown inFig. 11, and it also has a number of slots 59, terminating in shortangular extensions forming bayonet catches, for receiving lamp bases ofthe Swan type.

The adapter shown in Fig. 10, is provided with spring fingers 60, eachhaving a groove 61, at its outer end. All the grooves 61 are curved onthe same radius so as to grasp the annular rib formed on the lamp baseof the Sawyer-Man type shown in Fig. 12.

The neck 47 of the inclosing shell of the regulating socket is of suchsize that it will IOO IIO

receive and retain a lamp base of the Thomson-Houston type shown in Fig.13.

Having now fully described my invention, I ctlaim and desireto secure byLetters Paten 1. A portable current regulator, comprising means forgraduating the iiow ot current, a plug adapted to incandescent lampsockets, and a socket adapted to receive incandescent lamp-bases orplugs, substantially as described.

2. Aportablealternatingcurrentregulator, comprising an adjustablecounter-electrometive-force generator, a plug adapted to incandescentlamp sockets, and a socket adapted to receive incandescent-lamp-bases orplugs, substantially as described.

3. A portable current regulator, comprising means for graduating theflow ot current, a plug adjustable to dt several types of incandescentlamp sockets, in combination with exchangeable lamp holders or adaptersfor several types of incandescent-lamp-bases or plugs, substantially asdescribed.

Li. A portable alternating current regulator, comprising an adjustablecounter-electro-motive-torce generator, a plug adjustable to fit severaltypes ot incandescent lamp sockets, in combination with exchangeablelamp holders or adapters for several types of incandescent lamp-bases orplugs, substantially as described.

5. In a portable alternating current regule.- tor, the combination witha reaction or choking coil, of a switch-board for the coil, a socketadapted to receive incandescent-lamp-bases or plugs, and a plug adaptedto incandescent lamp sockets, substantially as described.

G. A portable current regulator comprising means t'or graduating theiiow of current, a plug adapted to incandescent electric lamp sockets,and connections for coupling the current graduating devices to atranslating device, substantially as described.

7. A portable current regulator comprising means for graduating the iiowof current, a plug adjustable to tit several types ot incandescent lampsockets, and connections tor coupling the current graduating devicesto'a translating device, substantially as described.

8. A portable alternating current regulator comprising an adjustablecounter-electro-motive-force generator, a plug adapted to incandescentlamp sockets and connections for coupling the current regulating devicesto a translating device, substantially as described.

9. A portable alternating current regulator, comprising an adjustablecounter-electronictive-force generator, a plug adjustable to tit severaltypes ot incandescent lamp sockets, and connections for coupling thecurrent regulating devices to a translating device, substantially asdescribed.

l0. Aportable current regulator comprising means for graduating the iowof current, and

exchangeable lamp holders or adapters for 6o several types otincandescent-lamp-bases or plugs, substantially as described.

ll. A portable alternating current regulator, comprising an adjustablecounter-electromotive force generator, and exchangeable lamp holders oradapters for several types of incandescent-lamp-bases or plugs,substantially as described.,

l2. ln a portable current regulator, the combination ot the regulatingdevices, with a plug provided with two terminals connecting with theregulating devices and adapted to make contact with incandescentelectric lamp sockets, one of said terminals consisting of ascrew-threaded sleeve, and the other ot a central metallic socketprovided wit-n a reversible and removable screw pin, whereby the plug isadapted to several types of incandescent lamp sockets, substantially asdescribed.

13. In a portable current regulator, the coinbination with theregulating devices, ot two terminals of the same, for contact withincandescentlamps, one ot which contacts consists of a central splittube screw-threaded externally, and the other being constituted byscrews and exchangeable concentric sleeves held by the screws, wherebythe terminals are adapted to hold and convey current to several types ofincandescent electric lamps, substantially as described.

li. A conducting plug, adapted to several types of incandescent electriclamp sockets, consisting of an insulating block carrying two terminals,one terminal consisting of a threaded metallic sleeve applied to theblock and provided with an annular head at one end, and the otherterminal consisting ot' a nut seated in the insulating block and areversible and removable adapter composed of a pin provided with ascrew-threaded head iitting the nut, substantially as described.

l5. Asocketforincandescentelectriclamps, adapted to several types oflamp-bases, or plugs, provided with two terminals for contact with thelamp-bases, one contact consisting of a central split tube,screw-threaded externally, and the other contact being constituted byscrews and exchangeable concentric sleevesheld by the screws,substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specitication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELlAS E. RES.

Witnesses:

STEPHEN S. CLARK, Guo. J. Gnnnnsrnnnnn.

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